Attractions
The elephant orphanage
Located on Langata Road, 25 minutes from city centre, is the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s elephant orphanage (www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org). It's a nonprofit that rescues baby elephants whose parents have been killed by poachers or died of disease. The orphanage takes in baby elephants and rhinos from all over Kenya and raises them together until they are old enough to survive on their own. Visitors can see the young animals play ball, eat, take mud baths and interact with their keepers. The orphanage opening hours are from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily.
The Giraffe Centre
The African Fund for Endangered Wildlife Kenya, also known as the Giraffe Centre (www.giraffecenter.org), is a nonprofit situated in a close proximity to the elephant orphanage.
Visitors can feed and watch the animals, many of which are rare species brought here to be saved from extinction. The Giraffe Manor is next door, a colonial-era home that has been turned into a hotel where one can feed the giraffes right from their room. The Giraffe Centre is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.
Karen Blixen Museum
The Karen neighbourhood, a 30-minute drive from Nairobi city centre, is named after Karen Blixen, the Danish baroness who as Isak Dinesen wrote 'Out of Africa.' She lived in Kenya from 1914 to 1931, and the Karen Blixen Museum (www.museums.or.ke/karen) was her home. The house overlooks the distant Ngong Hills, a point of inspiration to Blixen and many others. The grounds are meant to emulate Karen Blixen’s coffee plantation, and the labyrinth of gardens leads to an old mill. The museum is open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
The Nairobi Arboretum
The Nairobi Arboretum is 30 hectares of wooded landscape situated about 3 km. from the city centre. It holds over 350 species of indigenous and exotic plants. The diverse vegetation is also home to over 100 species of birds, a population of Sykes and Vervet monkeys, many butterflies and other small wildlife. It is a green space with shaded walkways, picnic lawns and jogging trails.
Nairobi National Park
The most famous capital city’s attraction is the Nairobi National Park. The park is unique in being the only game reserve to border a city of this size. Park inhabitants include endangered black rhino, buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard, baboon, zebra, wildebeest and cheetah – a total of 100 mammal species. It is home to over 400 species of birds. The Nairobi safari walk to the Nairobi National Park is a major attraction, as it offers a rare on-foot experience of the animals.
The National Museum of Kenya
The National Museum of Kenya (www.museums.or.ke) is situated 10 minutes from the city centre and houses a large collection of artefacts, including the full remains of a homo erectus boy. Savannah coffee house is located on the premises and overlooks the lush tropical gardens, providing a place to relax after touring the museum. Nairobi Railway Museum is another one worth visiting. The museums are open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.